Violence is associated with more than 600 thousand court cases (Study-ITES)

More than 600 thousand court cases where violence is predominant have been recorded between 2011 and 2017.

This figure represents 25% of all cases brought before courts, the Tunisian Institute of Strategic Studies (ITES) said in a study on urban violence conducted in October 2017.

According to the ITES study, these numbers reflect the increase in the country’s violence indicator.

This balance sheet gets heavier if we count cases of theft, murder and other acts of vandalism to which violence is generally associated.

Among the most extreme manifestations of violence in Tunisia, is the increase in the number of murder cases recorded between 2011 and 2016 which amounted to 1,550.

This figure could reach 1700 by the end of the current year, said the same study.

According to the ITES, this phenomenon is not new or even peculiar to the post-revolution period, since nearly 180 thousand cases of violence brought before courts were registered until 2010.

However, more than 200 thousand cases have been registered nationally until 2017.

This figure is likely to triple if the cases of physical and moral aggressions that were not brought to justice are counted, reveals the study.

In its comparative reading of indicators of violence, the ITES study has also shown that the phenomenon of violence is greater in urban than in rural areas.

Several factors are behind the violence according to the study which cites in particular the density of population in poor neighborhoods, the rise of regionalism, early school leaving, family disintegration, precariousness and unemployment.

The study also reports cases of violence and abuse in schools.

Indeed, educational institutions recorded 67,412 cases of physical and verbal violence between 2012 and 2015.